MONCHENGLADBACH (Germany), Sept 6: Christopher Zeller's last-minute goal led Germany to a 3-2 win against India in the opening match of the men's field hockey World Cup on Wednesday.

Zeller also scored the first goal on a 26th-minute penalty corner as the defending champion took a 1-0 lead into the halftime break in front of a crowd of 6,500.

It became tougher for eight-time Olympic champion India when it was reduced to 10 men after Kanwalpreet Singh was sent off in the 33rd minute.

But Shivendra Singh, in his World Cup debut, equalized in the 55th on a reverse-stick shot, the third and only attempt on goal from a penalty corner that goalkeeper Ulrich Bubolz couldn't stop.

“A draw would have been deserved,” India coach Vasudevan Baskaran said. “I was very happy with the way my team played in the second half. We were more aggressive.”

Five minutes after Singh's goal, Oliver Hentschel scored against the run of play with a rising shot between the goalkeeper and a defender to restore the host's one-goal advantage.

However, Singh flicked in a pass at the right post with six minutes left to spark wild celebrations among his country's fans that were to be silenced by Zeller's late goal.

India was best served by Arjun Halappa and his attacking runs down the right flank, while Tsuhar Khandker missed a first-half chance that ultimately proved crucial.

Germany coach Bernhard Peters said he wasn't surprised by Germany's last-minute winner.

“We have won in the last five minutes many times, so I expected it this time too,” Peters said.Germany, the Olympic bronze medallists, are the favourites for the tournament which runs through to Sept 17, along with Spain, Australia and the defending champions Netherlands.

Later on Wednesday, the Netherlands face South Korea and Argentina play New Zealand.

Thursday’s fixtures (all times PST):

India v England at 5.00pm; Pakistan v Japan at 7.00pm; Australia v Spain at 9.00pm; Netherlands v South Africa at 11.15pm.—AP